I read a lot of answer hear and other web sites. Some say leave it off except for highway diving. Other Say leave it on and some even say leave it off. What happens if you leave it off all the time? I have a Nissan Automatic with an overdrive switch.
Sorry if wrong category.
2006-10-12 13:08:54 · 8 answers · asked by webworm90 4 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Other - Cars & Transportation
the over drive gear is just for good fuel mileage. the gear ratio is the over drive is something like .56:1. you can drive the car in the gear before and it will run just fine with out ruining the tranny because the ratio is 1:1. by driving and leaving the tranny in overdrive your saving gas. if you are haling something heavy or going up mountains and the car keeps shifting back and forth then you need to take it out of over drive because that shifting back and fourth will wear out the tranny sooner. so regular driving with the car in overdrive isn't going to hurt a thing on the car.
2006-10-12 13:22:26 · answer #1 · answered by mustang656 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a give and take situation, yes driving in overdrive in the city will take its toll on the transmission from shifting one more gear all the time. Personally I would just drive it in overdrive b/c from the gas you will use driving in drive all the time will cancel out saving your transmission a little while longer, if thats even what causes it to go out, just have it serviced will make more difference than anything. Also dont tow with a maxima...thats a given.
2006-10-12 13:19:55 · answer #2 · answered by joshtnc 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will wear it out sooner if you leave it on all the time. When towing leave it off all the time. When doing regular driving leave it on then notice when it wants to shift out under normal conditions to regular drive, then add roughly 10 mph, this is when you should be taking it out of overdrive. If you tranny is lugging in overdrive at speeds when it should be in drive it will create more heat which in turn heats up your tranny oil, which keeps your tranny lubed. The hotter it is the less life and lube it provides. Roughly anything under 40 take it out and anything above leave it in. You won't loose your tranny in a year or anything like that, but it will knock say 2 years or more off the tranny life if you don't keep it happy.
2006-10-12 13:19:34 · answer #3 · answered by waltnsue2000 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Whatever your preference is. It won't hurt the engine or the transmission to be off or on, a bit better mileage (and a bit less power) using it. Top gear ration is 1:1, with overdrive engaged you might have 0.75:1 ratio instead.
2006-10-12 13:15:28 · answer #4 · answered by oklatom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have 01 maxima automatic and i drives it in overdrive most of the time. i also use number 2 gear when i have to race. transmission will not go bad as long as you do the flush on time. but if you have never done a transmission service or been delaying then it might hurt the perfomance.
2006-10-12 13:14:11 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Transmission wears out by too much shifting, if you get into overdrive, then slow down back to 3rd, then go back to overdrive, then slow down back to 3rd again, leave the o/d off.
2006-10-12 13:53:28 · answer #6 · answered by kayef57 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
All cars ran fine before over drive!! This is just another gear that lets you move at the same speed but the motor turns fewer RPMs thus saving gas,, however,, over drive has no 'power',, example: you can not spurt passed a car in front of you unless you stomp the passing gear or take it out of over drive!! If yours doesn't kick in auotmatically then just use it for highway cruising to save gas...
2006-10-12 13:19:33 · answer #7 · answered by fuzzykjun 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The tranny knows when to drop into O/D and when not to. The only time you should lock it out is when towing or hauling a load.
2006-10-12 14:08:48 · answer #8 · answered by Trump 2020 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋